Deadline Sealed Deal: Middlesbrough agree deal to sign Premier league 60-goal star after mutually been released by Club

In a dramatic deadline-day twist, Middlesbrough have agreed a deal to bring Patrick Bamford back to the Riverside Stadium after the striker mutually terminated his contract with Leeds United. The 31-year-old forward, who scored 60 goals during his seven-year stay at Elland Road, admitted the emotions of his departure were still “too raw” to fully process.

Bamford first joined Leeds in 2018 from Middlesbrough for £7 million, and quickly became a pivotal figure in the club’s revival. Across 205 appearances, he not only found the net consistently but also etched his name into club folklore, particularly during their 2019/20 Championship-winning campaign under Marcelo Bielsa. His 17 goals during Leeds’ first season back in the Premier League in 2020/21 marked the high point of his career, earning him a well-deserved England cap in September 2021.

But the final chapter at Elland Road was less forgiving. Injuries and a change in direction under manager Daniel Farke left Bamford out of favour. Last month, the German coach made it clear that the striker was no longer part of his plans, even warning that Bamford would be relegated to training with the under-21 squad if he stayed. It was a bitter pill to swallow for a player who had given so much to the club’s resurgence.

Confirming his exit on social media, Bamford kept his message short but heartfelt. “Right now, with the way it has come to an end and the way things have been handled recently, it is all too raw for me to reflect on immediately,” he wrote. “But in the years to come, I will look back at this period of my life with nothing but joy and pride and be super happy with what I have achieved. I want to thank all the managers I played under but especially Marcelo Bielsa. I don’t know where the club would be without the foundations he laid.”

For Bamford, a return to Middlesbrough represents more than just a new challenge — it’s a homecoming of sorts. The Teesside club, currently chasing promotion back to the Premier League, see his arrival as both a boost in experience and a statement signing. Despite his struggles in recent years, Bamford’s record speaks for itself: a proven goalscorer, a leader in the dressing room, and a player still hungry to make an impact.

At 31, this move may well be the final major chapter of his career, and it offers a chance for redemption in familiar surroundings. Middlesbrough fans will remember flashes of his talent from his earlier stint, but now they welcome back a more seasoned professional — one with Premier League goals, international recognition, and invaluable experience of fighting at the top level.

For Leeds, the departure marks the end of an era. For Bamford, it is the start of a new one. And for Middlesbrough, it could prove to be the deal that reignites their promotion push.